Iowa to Face UConn Without Key Reserve Emely Rodriguez Amid Suspension
When No. 12 Iowa steps onto the floor this Saturday to take on top-ranked UConn in Brooklyn, they’ll be missing a key piece off the bench. Sophomore guard/forward Emely Rodriguez has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules, according to reports.
Rodriguez’s absence doesn’t just thin Iowa’s rotation-it removes a versatile contributor who had been carving out a role in her first season with the Hawkeyes. The program hasn’t disclosed the specific nature of the suspension, but there’s a path back. Rodriguez could return later this season if she recommits to the program’s standards.
A Promising Transfer on Pause
Rodriguez, a 6-foot sophomore, transferred to Iowa from UCF after a standout freshman campaign that earned her All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors. She averaged nearly 12 points and over five rebounds per game last season, showing the kind of two-way potential that made her a valuable addition to Iowa’s roster.
Through six games this season, Rodriguez was averaging 7.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in limited minutes, shooting a solid 42.5% from the field and 80% from the line. She had shown flashes of her scoring ability, and her size and skillset offered flexibility in Iowa’s rotation.
Her last appearance came back on Nov. 22 in a narrow win over Miami. Since then, she’s been sidelined-initially due to what the team described as a back injury. She wasn’t on the bench during Iowa’s dominant win over Lindenwood last weekend, and head coach Jan Jensen had said earlier this month that Rodriguez was still rehabbing and not yet ready to return.
But during Tuesday’s media availability, when asked directly whether Rodriguez was still part of the team, Jensen’s response was brief-and telling: “She is as of right now. Yeah.”
That statement now carries more weight in light of the reported suspension.
What This Means for Iowa vs. UConn
The timing of Rodriguez’s absence couldn’t be more significant. Iowa is set to face a UConn team that’s been nothing short of dominant on both ends of the floor.
The Huskies come in undefeated at 11-0, averaging nearly 90 points per game while holding opponents to just under 52. That’s a jaw-dropping scoring margin of 37.8 points.
UConn is shooting the lights out-over 50% from the field and better than 40% from three. And they’re not just scoring-they’re smothering teams defensively, forcing more than 23 turnovers per game and turning those mistakes into over 30 points on average.
For Iowa, which enters at 10-1 (1-0 Big Ten), this game is a measuring stick. The Hawkeyes have been strong out of the gate, but facing UConn without a key reserve like Rodriguez shortens their bench and puts more pressure on the starters to carry the load.
Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, with coverage on Fox. All eyes will be on how Iowa responds-not just to UConn’s pressure, but to the internal challenge of moving forward without one of their top young players.